If Un Asks, U.s. Planes May Be Sent

Clinton Says He Would `Seriously Consider' Using Air Power To Protect Besieged French Peacekeepers In Bosnia

July 28, 1993

WASHINGTON — President Clinton said Wednesday that the United States would "seriously consider" using air power in Bosnia if asked to defend besieged United Nations peacekeepers.

Clinton said the French government, whose peacekeeping troops have come under fire in Bosnia, has not formally requested the air support. The French defense minister was at the UN Wednesday seeking protection for its soldiers.

Gen. Jean Cot, the French commander of UN peacekeepers in Bosnia, is expected to report within the next day or so that "all systems are go" for installing the air cover operation, U.S. officials said.

The United States, meanwhile, has reaffirmed its commitment to be part of the operation and France is likely to seek-and get approval-to implement the plan, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

This would set the stage for U.S. warplanes to open fire to defend peacekeepers if they come under attack and request help.

"The position of the United States has long been that if the United Nations troops were attacked there, we would do our part to protect them by making available air power. We have not yet been asked to do that. If we are asked, that's something we will give some consideration to," Clinton said.

A regular meeting of Clinton's senior foreign policy aides took on increased importance Wednesday because the French government had signaled its desire for the UN and NATO to speed up plans to provide air cover for UN ground forces in Bosnia.

French peacekeepers were caught in the line of fire for the second time in three days Tuesday when a building in Sarajevo, Bosnia's capital, was hit by at least seven Serb artillery shells.

The French government demanded that the UN Security Council put into immediate effect a resolution providing for such cover and that NATO, which offered planes, begin flying missions. Clinton said a request has not been formally made of the United States.

At the Capitol, House Speaker Thomas Foley (D-Wash.) declined to offer an opinion on the possible use of U.S. planes and crews. "They have not yet contacted, as far as I know, members of Congress," Foley said. "I'm sure that will happen."

In New York Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali said that NATO warplanes should start providing air cover for UN forces in Bosnia by early next week.

In remarks to reporters, the UN chief said that some time was still needed to draw up rules of engagement for possible air strikes and to deploy air controllers to guide attacks.

"Everything will be finished by Monday or Tuesday," he said in answers to questions. "I hope we will be able to find a definitive solution on Monday or Tuesday."

Diplomats said that Boutros-Ghali would have to approve the general UN readiness to have NATO aircraft launch any strikes, after consultation with some Security Council members.

Meanwhile, in Sarajevo Wednesday, Serb guns over Sarajevo fell quiet, giving residents pause to contemplate possible defeat both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.

The day of unusual calm came at a high cost.

Government troops reportedly suffered some of the heaviest losses of the 16-month siege Tuesday when a Serb artillery and infantry assault forced them out of some of their positions on Mount Zuc outside Sarajevo.

In northern Bosnia, Serbs continued shelling government positions around Brcko. Cedric Thornberry, the top UN civilian official in former Yugoslavia, said the fighting was sending large numbers of Muslim refugees south.